Manoah was a third-place finisher in Cy Young Award voting in 2022. But in 2023, he fell off a cliff before being optioned to the minors. The 2024 season didn't go much better before he suffered an elbow injury. Tommy John surgery took him out of action completely last June.

In Manoah's first Triple-A rehab outing, he lasted 1 2/3 innings, walking three batters and reaching 49 pitches.

The Toronto Blue Jays are waiting for the return of both Shane Bieber and Alek Manoah to the pitcher's mound, and both are closer than ever.